2010-11-18

[DIV28SUPER] Note from Francis Collins regarding Substance Use Abuse and Addiction Research

FYI…the latest from the Director…we’ll continue to follow the deliberations.

-geoff

_____________________________________________
From: Collins, Francis (NIH/OD) [E]
Sent: Thursday, November 18, 2010 2:52 PM
To: NIDA HQ; NIDA IRP
Subject: Substance Use, Abuse, and Addiction Research

 

 

TO:       NIDA Staff  

FROM:   NIH Director

SUBJECT:         Recommendation to Create a Single Institute for Substance Use, Abuse, and  Addiction Research                                   

I know all of you are aware of the recent deliberations about merging NIDA and NIAAA.  I now have received the formal recommendation from the NIH Scientific Management Review Board (SMRB) that NIH create a new Institute focusing on substance use, abuse, and addiction research and related public health initiatives.  This Institute would integrate the relevant research portfolios from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), and other NIH Institutes and Centers.  The formation of a single, new Institute devoted to such research makes scientific sense and would enhance NIH’s efforts to address the substance abuse and addiction problems that take such a terrible toll on our society.

 

I recognize that such a major organizational change will require a great deal of analysis, coordination, and effort.  I also appreciate that this proposal has prompted many questions and concerns among staff and outside stakeholders.  We will make certain that this process is carried out thoughtfully, with careful consideration of not only the science, but also of the staff in NIDA and NIAAA, and others at NIH who may be affected by these changes. Consequently, I have asked NIH Principal Deputy Director Lawrence A. Tabak, D.D.S., Ph.D., and National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Director Stephen I. Katz, M.D., Ph.D., to pull together a task force of experts from within NIH to look carefully across all of NIH’s 27 Institutes and Centers to determine where substance use, abuse, and addiction research programs currently exist and make recommendations about what programs should be moved into the proposed new Institute.  An important component of this effort will be to take a careful look at the intramural programs of NIDA and NIAAA, and consider how best to build on the excellent science represented there.  In addition, the task force will survey NIDA and NIAAA for programs that are not related to substance use, abuse, and addiction research and make recommendations about where such programs will go.  The task force will also include expertise on organizational change.  Final recommendations to the NIH Director will be informed by consultation with relevant internal and external stakeholders.

 

In order to provide more information about this plan, and to answer questions and address concerns, I would like to convene a town hall meeting of the staffs of NIAAA and NIDA on the morning of December 1.  Drs. Tabak, Katz, Volkow, and Warren will join me.  More details about the time and location for the town hall meeting will follow shortly.

 

Clearly, it will take some time to carry out this assessment in a thoughtful, systematic manner.  I anticipate that the task force will produce a detailed reorganization plan for my consideration sometime in the summer of 2011.  In the interim, all existing substance use, abuse, and addiction research programs at NIH will continue status quo.  It is imperative we keep these important lines of research moving forward with all due speed for the benefit of the nation’s health.  I appreciate your help and your patience as we move forward, and will keep you apprised of new developments as they emerge over the coming months.  

 

Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D.

 

 

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